Hi all I have a near four month old kitten who is due to j=have her last lot of vaccinations in the next few days.

She has been allowed out for short bursts in our back garden supervised of course.

There have been no difficulties with this until today when she realised she could find a way to get onto the wall (which she has previously been unable to).

Luckily I got her down but she managed to escape from me a couple of times and kept trying to attempt to do the same thing again.

She didn't try and actually go in to the garden next door but obviously I've now brought her in and don't think I can risk letting her out again.

The problem now is she has been crying non stop for hours and is getting really destructive in the house!

I feel really cruel containing her but am at the same time regretting allowing her out in the first place because now she knows what she's missing!

Forgot to add that she was trying to follow the cat next door who comes and goes through our garden the same way.
The two have had limited contact through the window and once or twice when he came into our garden.
Luckily they got on but its different when your standing right beside them, would have been terrified if my kitten had managed to get in to the garden,

Sorry for the ramble but I'm wondering if anyone had any ideas about what to do?
Do I just have to ignore the crying and hope she'll calm down?
And at what age will it not be a problem if she does wander, not until after she's spayed??

I'll be at the vets again in the next couple of days but if anyone has any thoughts until then that would be great.

I would wait for till after her Spey. Maybe another 10wks, she could get caught if not very careful. Have you tried a harness on her at all,

If she's meowing all of the time to get out, try and make her tired by playing with her for about 10-15 minutes. We used to do that to our youngest when she tried to get out to follow our other cat, and she gave up after we played with her because she was too tired.

Agreed, I'd wait for a spay before letting her out again, any chance you can get some sort of run for her? If not its lots and lots of play I'm afraid!

Thanks for all the replies.
We tried to put a kind of blockage up which we thought would contain her in case she escaped but she still managed it and I had to go next door to get her.

I guess she'll just have to stay inside, its difficult though with the part of the house she's kept in, she has to be brought into another room any time we want to open the door.
My real main worry is trusting my family not to let her out as they think I'm being over the top!
Really worried about this.

Just explain this thread to your family, she is better inside at the mo, you could try harness training, get a ferret/small rabbit harness, that might suit a small cat, she gets some outside time, you get supervision, might work, well it is worth a wee go imo!

I got my cats spayed both just before they were 5 months old, so can you not get her done early so she can go out?

Thanks NoseyLouie

Hopefully they'll take me seriously. In the mean time she's got plenty of toys which we are trying to wear her out with!

On a separate note I've 2 more questions. One- is it normal for kittens to cry lots? Sometimes she'll go on for ages (even when we were letting her outside) and only stop when I rub her and the second I stop she starts again.
Haven't had a kitten since I was a child so don't remember. I'm paranoid she's unhappy!

Also anyone any advice on the best type of collar to buy.
My old cat lived 16/17 years and we were never able to keep a collar on him long so we gave up.
Someone told me the plastic ones are actually most comfortable on them. Is this true? I've only tried the fabric ones

I asked my vet about this and she said she'd only do it when she's 5 months. But I'll ask again and see what she says.

She's such a tricky little thing! Never imagined it would be this much trouble trying to contain something so small! No matter how fast we are with doors and windows she's there like a shot.
Won't miss not having to worry so much.

It depends on the cat, lol a soft plastic one impregnated with tea tree to keep beasties at bay was fine for one, the other had a velveteen plain collar as she had delicate skin, both had stretch bands and bells, and name tags, they were semi outdoor cats!

Hamish doesn't have a collar he will only go out in the landing, if postie or stair cleaners/ bin men come he hides under the duvet..! So he is the lord of his manor, his personal serengeti, my dad is convinced Hamish was a lion in a past life!

I had known a few kits that were meowers,it's normal my childhood kitten used to cry to get up on my top bunk for pets and sleep!

Luckily we had single beds after she got speyed
Eep!

Mine might have done it because I had a boy and a girl and I was obviously very keen to get them done ASAP to avoid any baby making antics

With regards to letting them out, you just have to grin and bear it. I still have no idea how they find their way home, they just do!

Is'nt tree tea oil dangerous for cats.

it seemed to be acceptable 15 years ago as a natural pesticide. The cats never suffered ill effects, of course if its against current advice I'd stay clear.

Eep sorry

Well I have learned something x

Only vet prescribed medicines should be trusted to keep fleas and ticks away. Especially on kittens that can suffer from flea anaemia. As for collars, I wouldn't use one, even more so because your cat seems to be a bit of a climber/free runner. They can hang themselves and even the safety collars can't be trusted. When you get her jabs, get her chipped. And lastly, please don't let her out til she's neutered!!!

And lastly, please don't let her out til she's neutered!!![/quote]